Home Takes Time
By: Emily Mabe / Willow & Pearls
After 12 moves in 17 years, our family finally found a place to call home—a charming 1960s Cape Cod on Alabama’s Eastern Shore. The house won us over with its traditional floor plan, lovely staircase, and vintage character, but it also needed a lot of work—and a bit of personality. As a military family, we were eager to take on the challenge. After all, we’d never really had the chance to create a home that felt like ours until now.
Five years later, we’ve tackled countless projects. Some were glamorous, but most were practical: a new roof, replacing a broken front door, tree removal, and new air conditioners. Of course, with any older home, there were plenty of surprises. For example, we found 4,000 square feet of latex paint layered over oil-based paint, a challenge in itself!
But slowly, with a lot of paint and persistence, this house has transformed. The beige and brown walls are now long gone. No trim, wall, or ceiling has been left untouched! One of my favorite changes was embracing wallpaper—our first project was hanging Schumacher’s Hydrangea Drape in the foyer and creating a gallery wall with all the artwork we’d thrifted while stationed in Europe.
This year, we tackled the exterior. We painted the drab, dull brown brick a crisp white and chose a soft blue for the shutters to channel the charm of French homes. The final touch? Adding an overhang over the front door with a haint blue ceiling and copper shingles, giving the house character and dimension.
Throughout this journey, I’ve loved sharing our progress with my Instagram friends, and I can’t wait to tackle the next project on our endless list! If you’d like to follow along, you can find me on Instagram. Many of these projects have been funded through my online vintage decor business, Willow & Pearls. It’s been so rewarding to help others curate items for their homes while forming meaningful friendships along the way.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the past five years is that home takes time. It’s not always easy, but it’s immensely rewarding.
I truly believe that your home is an extension of yourself, so don’t be afraid to take bold steps! Throw caution to the wind and embrace a daring paint color—it’s just paint; you can always change it. Don’t stress over a few nail holes; create that gallery wall you’ve always dreamed of. Your ceilings and molding don’t have to be white. That quirky thrift store find? Buy it! If you love it, it will work in your space. Trust your style and be confident in your choices.
If you’re not sure where to start, I always recommend focusing on art. Visit a local gallery or antique store and find a piece that speaks to you—perhaps something from a favorite vacation destination, like Venice! Take it home, hang it, and instantly, your home starts to tell part of your story.
And always remember: home takes time.
-Emily Mabe / Willow & Pearls
About the Author:
Emily Mabe grew up in the Deep South, where her love for curated and colorful interiors took root. After years of apartment living in Washington, D.C., and countless moves as a military spouse, she and her family have finally found their forever home in Spanish Fort, Alabama. A lover of vintage and antiques, Emily founded Willow & Pearls in 2019 to curate beautiful and unique items for her clients, bringing charm and personality into every space she touches.
Connect with Emily Mabe
Website: WillowandPearls.com
Instagram: @WillowAndPearls
Photos provided by: Emily Mabe
Share this post:
Click this link to visit our shop! Follow us on social media below!
Southern Hospitality Company
2 responses to “Home Takes Time”
The little girl’s room is so sweet. Love the idea of taking your time and collecting what you love.
Love that you took the time to write this. My biggest pet peeve is everyone having these picture perfect homes and acting like it happened overnight. These things take a while to collect and that’s what makes it so special. I love my home because I’ve carefully taken the time to make it just perfectly mine.